Window awning

ABSTRACT

A window awning adapted to be made of light weight injection molded plastic components and designed to be assembled by the user from a minimum number of sections which releasably interlock with each other. These components are a hanger, a suspension assembly integral with a roof portion, and two side portions. The side portions snap lock into position with the roof portion. The combined roof portion and side portions are hung from the hanger portion by detents on the suspension assembly engaging in slots in the hanger. The hander is adapted to be secured to the upper portion of a window frame by screws or blots and the bottom of the awning is adapted to be restained from swinging away from the window frame by fasteners provided at the lower portions of the side portions.

[ Mar. 11, 1975 1 WINDOW AWNING [76] Inventor: George E. Tedesh, Pegan Ln.,

Dover, Mass. 02030 [22] Filed: July 2, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 375,544

[52] 11.8. C1. 52/76, 52/473 [51] Int. Cl E04b 1/34 [58] Field of Search 52/76, 74,75, 77, 78, 52/473; 49/71 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,565,294 8/1951 Bain 52/76 2,576,422 11/1951 Spradling..... 52/76 X 2,639,477 5/1953 Freeman 52/75 2.744300 5/1956 Etten .r 52/76 2,788,550 4/1957 Andrews... 52/473 X 2,834,072 5/1958 7 Miller 52/77 2,846,735 8/1958 Zeimet 52/76 2,867,273 1/1959 Brennan et al. 49/71 X 3.092.171 6/1964 Deddo 52/74 X 3,286,404 11/1966 Harrison 49/71 X Primary Examiner-Frank L. Abbott Assistant ExaminerLeslie A. Braun [57] ABSTRACT A window awning adapted to be made of light weight injection molded plastic components and designed to be assembled by the user from a minimum number of sections which releasably interlock with each other. These components are a hanger, a suspension assembly integral with a roof portion, and two side portions. The side portions snap lock into position with the roof portion. The combined roof portion and side portions are hung from the hanger portion by detents on the suspension assembly engaging in slots in the hanger. The hander is adapted to be secured to the upper por tion of a window frame by screws or blots and the bottom of the awning is adapted to be restained from swinging away from the window frame by fasteners provided at the lower portions of the side portions.

10 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures WINDOW AWNING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Ventilated awning for windows.

2. Description of the Prior Art A well known form of ventilated awning in the prior art is comprised of a plurality of relatively thin metal panels arranged to provide a roof portion and side portions. These structures are intended to be relatively light in weight and to be assembled and mounted on location. However, the actual weight of the resultant structure is quite substantial requiring a relatively heavy construction for securing the assembly in place in a window frame. Furthermore, such securing structure has been relatively complex and has required a substantial amount of labor and skill in the mounting of such awnings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention substantially eliminates the above defects and provides other advantages by a special design which enables the entire structure to be made of light weight injection molded plastic parts. The weight of the structure is so light that it may easily be set in place by persons possessing very little physical strength. The structure is hung from a hanger which is fastened to the upper portion of a window frame by a few screws. That hanger has two spaced plates projecting from it. The upper plate has a series of slots into which detents on the suspension member for the awning itself are inserted. The lower plate has slots and the suspension member has guiding wall members which interfit with said slots to guide the detents into place. Said wall members also have rear edges which rest against a wall of the hanger to act as fulcrums be tween the weight of the awning and the force exerted between the detents and the slots to hold the weight of the awning securely in place. The awning roof is se cured to the suspension member and consists of an upper and lower series of v-shaped roof panels overlapping each other to provide a ventilated, rain tight structure. Side portions are snap locked into position on the roof portion before the combined structure is lifted into place to interlock the suspension with the hanger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the awning attached to a window frame;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, similar to FIG. 1 showing a final step in the attachment of the awning to a hanger on the window fame;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective exploded view, on a larger scale than that of FIG. 1, illustrating a step in the assembly of two parts of the awning hanger;

FIG. 4 is a view, similar to FIG. 3, illustrating a step in the attachment of the awning to the assembled hanger;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section taken along line 55 of FIG. 6 showing details of the roof portion of the awning;

FIG 6 is a side view of the roof portion of the awning, as viewed from the left in FIGS. 1 and 5;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of one of the side portions of the awning;

FIG. 8 is a lower end view of the side portion of FIG. 7 as viewed from the bottom of FIG. 7;

69 structure would be secured in place only by the fasten- FIG. 9 is a perspective view of said side portion of the awning, as viewed from the inside of the awning structure;

FIG. 10 is a partial view of the roof portion as shown in FIG. 5 with one side portion of the awning attached thereto; and

FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-section taken along line ll-ll of FIG. 10 showing the awning in place on the hanger.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As shown in FIG. 1, the awning structure consists of a roof portion 1, and two side portions 2, only one of which is visible in FIG. 1. The roof and side portions I and 2, which are assembled as will be described below. are attached to a hanger 3 which is secured to a window frame 4 by means of fasteners 5. The lower portion of the attached awning is kept in place by fasteners 6 extending through tabs 7 on the side portions 2 into the window frame 4.

In order to facilitate the injection molding of hanger 3, it is preferably constructed of an upper section 8 and a lower section 9 as shown in section 9 as shown in FIG. 3. Some of the details of this construction are also shown enlarged in FIG. 11. The upper section 8 has a flat back plate 10 from which projects a downwardly tilted plate 11, stiffened and braced in position by a series of vertical ribs 12. Between each alternate pair of ribs 12, plate 11 is slotted at 13. The lower section 9 has a flat back plate 14 from which project a series of box-like elements 15. Each element I5 has a top wall 16, which, in the assembled state of the hanger 3, is spaced from plate 11, but is tilted downwardly at a smaller angle than is plate 11. Each element 15 also has a front wall 17 and a pair of end walls 18 and 19. The bottom of each element may be left open, thus facilitating the ease with which the lower section 9 may be injection molded. In effect the several plates 16 form a single lower plate having a series of transverse slots 31, each bounded by a pair of walls 18 and 19.

In order to align the upper and lower sections 8 and 9, the top edge of wall 14 is provided with a pair of dovetail projections 20 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 3) and the lower edge of wall 10 is provided with a corresponding pair of dovetail notches 21. To assemble the hanger 3 in place on the window frame 4, the lower section 9 is first secured in place by a plurality of screws 22 passing through back wall 14. Thereupon the upper section 8 is fitted over the lower section 9 by slipping the dovetail notches 21 over the dovetail projections 22, and is secured in place by fasteners 5 passing through the back wall 10 into the window frame 4. In this state the combined hanger 3 is as shown in FIG. 4 with the walls 10 and 14 abutting along line 23. since virtually all the weight of the awning will be supported by the fasteners 5, they are substantially larger than the screws 22.

It is to be understood that, if desired, the hanger 3 could be formed in one piece. In such case the unitary ers 5.

The awning itself is made with a suspension assembly 24, the construction of which is shown in greatest detail in FIGS. 4 and 11. The assembly 24 is formed with a top wall 25, a front wall 26, at substantially right angles to top wall 25, and a pair of end walls 27, one of which can be seen in FIG. 4, and the other in FIG. 9. The rear upper side of top wall 25 is provided with a series of projecting detents 28, each of which is adaptd to fit into a corresponding slot 13 in plate 11. When the suspension assembly 24 is inserted into the hanger 3, each detent fits into a slot 13 and each end wall 27 overlies an end plate 18 of the end box-like element 15. As shown most clearly in FIG. 11, the rear edge 29 of each end wall 27 is cut at such an angle so as to rest against the back plate 14 of hanger 3. Therefore rear edge 29 acts as a fulcrum between the force exerted at the front end of suspension assembly 24 and the counter force created between each detent 28 and its slot 13. The suspension assembly 24 is also formed with an intermediate wall member 30 approximately midway between each pair of detents 28. Wall members 30 are of the same size and shape as end walls 27 and each is adapted to be received in a slot 31 provided between each pair of box-like member 15. It will be seen from FIG. 3 that each slot 31 is bounded by a pair of walls 18 and 19. In effect the several plates 11 comprise a single lower plate spaced from upper plate 11, said lower plate being provided with a series of transverse slots 31. Since each wall member 30 is the same size and shape as an end wall '27, its rear edge rests against back plate 14 and acts as does rear edge 29, as a fulcrum between the two forces as described above. Due to this combination of forces, the entire awning structure is firmly and adequately supported by the hanger 3.

In order to integrate the roof portion 1 of the awning with the suspension assembly 24, there is cemented or otherwise secured to the front wall 26 of said suspension assembly a plate 32 such as is seen in FIG. 5. Its lower edge 33 is straight, but its upper edge is formed with an upper series of V-shaped recesses 34 and a lower series of V-shaped recesses 35, with short vertical steps 36 between the edges of successive V-shaped recesses 34 and 35. At each end of plate 32 there is secured a snap lock-in plug 37 which, as will be explained below, enables the side portions 2 of the awning to be assembled with the roof portion 1. Each snap lock-in plug 37 has a split tapered end 38 with a split retaining ring 39 formed on its outer surface. each plug 37 is retained in place by a plate 40 which is cemented around the plug 37 and to the plate 32.

Into each upper V-shaped recess 34 is inserted an upper elongated roof panel 41. The longitudinal configuration of each of said roof panels is shown most clearly in FIG. 6 which shows the left hand panel 41 of FIG. in elevation. Into each lower V-shaped recess 35 is inserted a lower elongated roof panel 42, the left hand end one being shown in FIG. 5 behind roof panel 41. The roof panels 41 and 42 are securely cemented or welded into place in recesses 34 and 35 and form a unitary part of the assembly including the suspension assembly 24. In addition to plate 32, substantially identical plates carrying end snap lock-in plugs 37 are mounted on the roof panels 41 and 42 at points 45 and 46. In FIG. 6, one end snap lock-in plug 37 of each of said additional plates can be seen. It is to be understood that the roof panels 41 and 42 are also cemented or welded into the recesses in such additional plates in the same manner as shown in FIG. 5. It will be noted that the short vertical steps 36 in the top of each plate 32 space the upper roof panels 41 from the lower roof panels 42 thus providing air circulation passages between such two series of roof panels. It will also be noted that the edges of roof panels 41 overlap the edges of roof panels 42 to provide a virtually rain tight protection by the awning.

The roof portion, when thus integrated with the suspension assembly 24, presents the appearance as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The side portions 2 are constructed separately from the roof portion. As shown in FIGS. 7-9, each side portion includes an elongated upper edge side plate 47 notched along its lower edge at 48 to receive the upper ends of a series of side panels 49. These side curve outwardly from plate 47 for a short distance and then extend downwardly with a generally V-shaped crosssection, as shown in FIG. 8. Panels 49 are of successively shorter lengths from the upper to the lower ends of plate 47, giving to each side portion the triangular configuration as shown. The lower portions of panels 49 are maintained in place by a cross bar 50 which is formed with the saw-tooth edge configuration as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Each panel 49 is fitted into a corresponding notch 51 of such saw-tooth-edge and is cemented or welded in position. One end of cross bar 50 is provided with one of the tabs 7, previously referred to, which carries one of the fasteners 6.

As shown in FIG. 9, the plate 47 has secured to its inner side a plurality of lock sockets 52 corresponding in number and position with the lock-in plugs 37 extending along one side of the roof structure. Each lock socket 52 may be made of a pair of parallel plates 53 carrying a block 54' between them, the combined structure being bored to provide .a bore 55 extending through plates 53 and block 54.

The various parts of the awning structure, as described above, are each designed so as to be readily formed by injection molding of an appropriate plastic material. The hanger 3 is supplied to the user either in one or two parts as described. The roof portion 1 is fabricated integrally with the suspension assembly 24 and is supplied in such integrated form to the user. Each side portion 2 is supplied to the user disassembled from the roof portion. Since each of the above separate units are quite flat, they may be packaged compactly in a relatively flat box or other container and supplied in such packaged form to the user with the necessary fasteners 5, 6 and 22.

In order to mount the awning in a window frame 4, the user first mounts the hanger 3 on the window frame as previously described. Then the roof portion 1 is assembled with its two side portions 2. This is done simply by inserting each snap-in lock plug 37 on the roof portion 1 into one of the bores 55 of the lock sockets 52 in a side portion 2. The split end 38 of each plug is resilient and is compressed as enters its socket 52 so that split ring 39 slides through bore 55 until it emerges, whereupon it snaps open and locks against the lower surface of lower plate 53, as shown in FIG. 10. Whenever it may be desired to disassemble side 2 from roof 1, the resilient split end 38 is manually compressed whereupon plug 37 is readily removed from socket 52.

The roof portion 1, assembled with its two side portions 2, is lifted to the position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 and thus the suspension assembly 24 is readily inserted into the hanger 3. In doing so, the wall members 30 enter the slots 31, and thus guide the assembly 24 accurately into place until the detents 28 enter the slots 13. Thereupon the relationship of the parts as shown in FIG. 11 is established and the combined roof and side portion of the awning are firmly supported in place as described above. Fasteners 6 are then used to keep the lower end of the awning from swinging away from the window frame 14.

The awning structure may be readily removed by removing the two fasteners 6 and unlatching the suspension assembly 24 from the hanger 3.

What is claimed is:

1. An awning construction comprising:

a. a hanger comprising an elongated back plate adapted to be secured in a horizontal position on the upper portion of a window frame; said hanger having a substantially planar support member projecting outwardly and downwardly therefrom and forming an acute angle therewith; said support member being provided with a plurality of elongated slots extending through said support member along a position adjacent to and parallel with said back plate;

b. a suspension assembly having an elongated substantially planar suspension member provided with a plurality of elongated detents, corresponding in size and spacing with said slots, projecting from the upper surface of said suspension member, each of said detents being received in a corresponding slot, with the upper surface of said suspension member being substantially coplanar with the lower surface of said support member, and

c. an awning roof portion secured along its upper end to said suspension assembly and projecting therefrom.

2. An awning construction as in claim 1 in which a. said hanger also comprises a substantially planar lower member secured to said back plate in a position spaced from and substantially parallel said support member; and

b. said suspension member being positioned between said support member and said lower member.

3. An awning construction as in claim 2 in which said suspension assembly is also provided with a plurality of vertical wall members secured to the lower face of said suspension member at substantially right angles to the outer edge of said suspension member, each of said wall members having a rear edge engaging a front surface of said elongated back plate.

4. An awning construction as in claim 1 in which said awning roof portion comprises:

a. a plurality of spaced V-shaped upper roof panels each secured at an upper end to said suspension assembly;

b. a plurality of spaced V-shaped lower roof panels each secured at an upper end to said suspension assembly overlapping the space between two of said upper panels and spaced a short distance below said upper panels c. the edges of said upper panels overlapping the edges of said lower panels being oriented with its V-shape in a vertical orientation, whereby said roof portion constitutes a ventilated, substantially rain tight structure.

5. An awning construction comprising:

a. a hanger comprising an elongated back plate adapted to be secured in a horizontal position on the upper portion of a window frame; said hanger having a member projecting therefrom, said member being provided with detent receiving slots;

b. a suspension assembly having an elongated member provided with detents projecting from its upper surface and received within said detent receiving slots; and

c. an awning roof portion secured along its upper end to said suspension assembly and projecting therefrom;

a pair of side portions of a substantially right triangle configuration, each of said side portions being provided along its hypothenuse with a plurality of first snap lock members;

e. said roof portion being provided along each of its side edges with a plurality of second snap lock members corresponding in position and number with said first snap lock members corresponding in position and number with said first snap lock members of a corresponding side portion, and adapted to interact with said first snap lock members to enter into locking engagement therewith when said first and second snap lock members are brought into engagement with each other.

6. An awning construction as in claim 5 in which the lower portion of the vertical leg of each side portion is provided with a projecting tab adapted to engage one side of said window frame and being provided with screws to secure said tab to said side to restrain motion of the lower portion of said awning structure away from said window frame.

7. An awning construction as in claim 5 in which each side portion is comprised of a plurality of spaced, vertically disposed V-shaped panels secured between the hypothenuse and bottom leg of said side portion.

8. An awning construction comprising:

a. a hanger comprising an elongated back plate adapted to be secured in a horizontal position on the upper portion of a window frame; said hanger having a member projecting therefrom said member beingprovided with detent sreceiving slots;

b. a suspension assembly having an elongated member provided with detents projecting from its upper surface and received within said detent receiving slots;

c. an awning roof portion secured along its upper end to said suspsension assembly and projecting therefrom;

d. said hanger, suspension assembly and roof portion being comprised substantially entirely of injection molded plastic components. a

9. An awning construction comprising:

a. a hanger comprising an elongated back plate adapted to be secured in a horizontal position on the upper portion of a window frame; said hanger having a member projecting therefrom, said member being provided with detent receiving slots;

b. a suspension assembly having an elongated member provided with detents projecting from its upper surface and received within said detent receiving slots;

c. an awning roof portion secured along its upper end to said suspension assembly and projecting therefrom;

d. said projecting member comprising an upper plate and in which said slots are disposed along a line substantially parallel with said back plate; said hanger further comprising a lower plate secured to said back plate;

e. said elongatedmember of said suspension assembly comprising a suspension plate positioned between said upper and lower plates;

f. said suspension assembly also being provided with a plurality of vertical wall members secured to the lower face of said suspension plate, each of said wall members having a rear edge engaging a front surface of said elongated back plate; and

g g said lower plate being provided with at least one surface and received within said detent receiving slots; and

c. an awning roof portion secured along its upper end to said suspension assembly and projecting therefrom;

d. said awning roof portion comprising a plurality of spaced V-shaped upper roof panels each secured at an upper end to said suspension assembly; and

e. a plurality of spaced V-shaped lower roof panels each secured at an upper end to said suspension assembly overlapping the space between two of said upper panels and'spaced a short distance below said upper panels;

f. the edges of said upper panels overlapping the edges of said lower panels and each of said panels being oriented with its v shape in a vertical orientation, whereby said roof portion constitutes a ventilated, substantially rain tight structure;

g. said hanger, suspension assembly and roof portion being comprised substantially entirely of injection molded plastic components. 

1. An awning construction comprising: a. a hanger comprising an elongated back plate adapted to be secured in a horizontal position on the upper portion of a window frame; said hanger having a substantially planar support member projecting outwardly and downwardly therefrom and forming an acute angle therewith; said support member being provided with a plurality of elongated slots extending through said support member along a position adjacent to and parallel with said back plate; b. a suspension assembly having an elongated substantially planar suspension member provided with a plurality of elongated detents, cOrresponding in size and spacing with said slots, projecting from the upper surface of said suspension member, each of said detents being received in a corresponding slot, with the upper surface of said suspension member being substantially coplanar with the lower surface of said support member, and c. an awning roof portion secured along its upper end to said suspension assembly and projecting therefrom.
 1. An awning construction comprising: a. a hanger comprising an elongated back plate adapted to be secured in a horizontal position on the upper portion of a window frame; said hanger having a substantially planar support member projecting outwardly and downwardly therefrom and forming an acute angle therewith; said support member being provided with a plurality of elongated slots extending through said support member along a position adjacent to and parallel with said back plate; b. a suspension assembly having an elongated substantially planar suspension member provided with a plurality of elongated detents, cOrresponding in size and spacing with said slots, projecting from the upper surface of said suspension member, each of said detents being received in a corresponding slot, with the upper surface of said suspension member being substantially coplanar with the lower surface of said support member, and c. an awning roof portion secured along its upper end to said suspension assembly and projecting therefrom.
 2. An awning construction as in claim 1 in which a. said hanger also comprises a substantially planar lower member secured to said back plate in a position spaced from and substantially parallel said support member; and b. said suspension member being positioned between said support member and said lower member.
 3. An awning construction as in claim 2 in which said suspension assembly is also provided with a plurality of vertical wall members secured to the lower face of said suspension member at substantially right angles to the outer edge of said suspension member, each of said wall members having a rear edge engaging a front surface of said elongated back plate.
 4. An awning construction as in claim 1 in which said awning roof portion comprises: a. a plurality of spaced V-shaped upper roof panels each secured at an upper end to said suspension assembly; b. a plurality of spaced V-shaped lower roof panels each secured at an upper end to said suspension assembly overlapping the space between two of said upper panels and spaced a short distance below said upper panels c. the edges of said upper panels overlapping the edges of said lower panels being oriented with its V-shape in a vertical orientation, whereby said roof portion constitutes a ventilated, substantially rain tight structure.
 5. An awning construction comprising: a. a hanger comprising an elongated back plate adapted to be secured in a horizontal position on the upper portion of a window frame; said hanger having a member projecting therefrom, said member being provided with detent receiving slots; b. a suspension assembly having an elongated member provided with detents projecting from its upper surface and received within said detent receiving slots; and c. an awning roof portion secured along its upper end to said suspension assembly and projecting therefrom; d. a pair of side portions of a substantially right triangle configuration, each of said side portions being provided along its hypothenuse with a plurality of first snap lock members; e. said roof portion being provided along each of its side edges with a plurality of second snap lock members corresponding in position and number with said first snap lock members corresponding in position and number with said first snap lock members of a corresponding side portion, and adapted to interact with said first snap lock members to enter into locking engagement therewith when said first and second snap lock members are brought into engagement with each other.
 6. An awning construction as in claim 5 in which the lower portion of the vertical leg of each side portion is provided with a projecting tab adapted to engage one side of said window frame and being provided with screws to secure said tab to said side to restrain motion of the lower portion of said awning structure away from said window frame.
 7. An awning construction as in claim 5 in which each side portion is comprised of a plurality of spaced, vertically disposed V-shaped panels secured between the hypothenuse and bottom leg of said side portion.
 8. An awning construction comprising: a. a hanger comprising an elongated back plate adapted to be secured in a horizontal position on the upper portion of a window frame; said hanger having a member projecting therefrom said member being provided with detent sreceiving slots; b. a suspension assembly having an elongated member provided with detents projecting from its upper surface and received within said detent receiving slots; c. an awning roof portion securEd along its upper end to said suspsension assembly and projecting therefrom; d. said hanger, suspension assembly and roof portion being comprised substantially entirely of injection molded plastic components.
 9. An awning construction comprising: a. a hanger comprising an elongated back plate adapted to be secured in a horizontal position on the upper portion of a window frame; said hanger having a member projecting therefrom, said member being provided with detent receiving slots; b. a suspension assembly having an elongated member provided with detents projecting from its upper surface and received within said detent receiving slots; c. an awning roof portion secured along its upper end to said suspension assembly and projecting therefrom; d. said projecting member comprising an upper plate and in which said slots are disposed along a line substantially parallel with said back plate; said hanger further comprising a lower plate secured to said back plate; e. said elongated member of said suspension assembly comprising a suspension plate positioned between said upper and lower plates; f. said suspension assembly also being provided with a plurality of vertical wall members secured to the lower face of said suspension plate, each of said wall members having a rear edge engaging a front surface of said elongated back plate; and g. said lower plate being provided with at least one transverse slot and said suspension plate being provided with at least one intermediate vertical with member disposed at substantially right angles to the outer edge of said suspension plate and located within said transverse slot. 